1655
oil
canvas
From the collection of Galleria Borghese
Susanna harassed by the Elders (Daniel 13:1-63) is a 1655 oil by Gerard van Honthorst, a Dutch Golden Age work, held at Galleria Borghese.
The painting depicts a scene of a young woman, Susanna, being harassed by two older men. She is shown standing in a pool of water, with a white cloth wrapped around her waist. The two men, dressed in red and brown robes, are standing on the edge of the pool, looking at Susanna with leering expressions. One of the men is pointing at Susanna, while the other is holding onto her cloth. The background of the painting is dark and shadowy, with some foliage visible behind the figures. The overall mood of the painting is one of tension and unease, as Susanna appears to be trying to defend herself against the unwanted advances of the two men. This painting is an example of the use of chiaroscuro, a technique that uses strong contrasts between light and dark to create a sense of drama and tension.
Gerard "Gerrit" van Honthorst (4 November 1592 – 27 April 1656) was a Dutch Golden Age painter who became known for his depiction of artificially lit scenes, eventually receiving the Italian nickname Gherardo delle Notti ("Gerard of the Nights").
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